College Mentoring in Fall 2020 includes virtual, blended in-person and virtual, and in-person. Many programs also offer leadership development, internship opportunities, and coaching. Staff and professors are innovative and resilient in their outreach and mentoring.

Oklahoma Panhandle State University (OPSU)

Oklahoma Panhandle State University is Oklahoma’s only certified Hispanic-Serving Institution. Oklahoma is one of only 25 states, including Puerto Rico, designated among the Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs). Overcoming the Hispanic achievement gap takes continuous, intentional effort, but young Latinos are eager and dedicated to achieve. Following are notes from communication with Teri Mora, M.Ed., director of Hispanic Student Services and of Upward Bound (right).

Talk to the families. Mora has monthly parent meetings, really mentoring, i.e., building a relationship and communicating. Hispanic families are close, and parents must give permission.

Colleges and other institutions must translate the areas and documents about which parents need to be informed, i.e. registration, housing, financial aid.

Show the value of college over shorter term certificates or degrees. Hispanic families are hardworking, intensive laborers. Making money is for the whole family. 

Outreach in Schools and Communitywide In addition to her own efforts, Mrs. Mora has mentored Hispanic American Leadership Organization (HALO) students to reach out and mentor as well. Recently, for example, HALO mentees championed voter registration and prepared a census project and webinar.

Celebration OPSU participates in the annual Guymon community FIESTA celebration where it awards a King and Queen scholarship and also a small scholarship for all participants. OPSU celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month on campus for the entire month with many activities.

Leadership Student mentees and peer mentors have the opportunity to attend Hispanic leadership conferences during the year. Mora also works with them on obtaining federal internships in Washington, D.C. To date, they have interned with Library of Congress, National Institutes of Health, USDA, and various other offices.

Scholarship and Graduate Studies HALO students have been successful in receiving many scholarships and in being accepted to graduate school programs. Two students are currently engaged in the Oklahoma Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (OK-LSAMP) to encourage graduate studies in STEM fields.

Competition OPSU is proud to have two former National Champions of the Hispanic College Quiz, Ami Torres, 2017, and Anyssa Barbosa, 2015.

Dancing The Alma Folklórica dance group, formed 20 years ago at Guymon High School, is another way to mentor students with leadership and give them an opportunity to showcase their culture. The  successful program has garnered the Governor’s Arts Award and a $10,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. 

Hispanic American Leadership Organization (HALO), a program with mentoring and leadership, includes trips to the regional and national conferences.

Tri-State CAMP (College Assistance Migrant Program) provides an opportunity for students of migrant or seasonal farm work backgrounds to attend college. The program provides financial assistance, individualized mentoring/tutoring, and cultural activities to qualified students to help students succeed in completing their first year of college.

In Upward Bound, collegians peer mentor high school students.

Photo from the Alma Folklórica dance group, Guymon High School, 2013.

Lance Millis is the director of Student Academic Services for the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology at Oklahoma State University. He oversees CEAT's many mentoring programs, too, which include the following.

CEAT Summer Bridge Program

The Senior Mentor Program pairs an incoming first-year student with both a student and physician mentor. Student mentors provide a colleague for the incoming students to help them navigate academics and provide advice for balancing academics with personal life. Physician mentors provide students with perspective and insight on longer term goals. All students are assigned faculty advisors who also play mentoring roles. Mentors develop the interpersonal skills required by physicians and gain perspective outside of the student’s own generation.

The OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine has a reputation of being a supportive family and culture. Part of that culture is involving students in the process of what’s working and what’s not. Dr. Hackler likes to connect with people and see the impact of mentoring, learning, connecting, and other components of the OSU-COM community.

UCO Diversity Outreach The Office of Diversity and Inclusion works to advance cultural competence while implementing opportunities for our diverse communities to learn, thrive, and succeed. One outreach method is by hosting and facilitating cultural experiences and conferences that seek to educate both current and prospective students. These experiences include the Black Male Summit, Black Girl Magic, Diversity Day, and Primeros Pasos. In addition to the website information above, J'lecia Gigi Jones, Diversity Education Coordinator, Office of Diversity and Inclusion, provided an update on one program.

"Primero Pasos or 'First Steps' is a program that reaches out to Latinx high school students to give them an idea of how UCO can be a part of their lives. This event understands the unique challenges that face these students and presents a platform that shows where UCO can excel in meeting their needs. As they look forward to college, the opportunities offered at UCO are showcased to these potential members of the UCO family.

This year, the event will be a virtual class, taking place over the span of three weeks. Participants will be able to connect with students, staff, and faculty to learn what UCO has to offer. They will hear from current college students, learn more about financial aid, and engage in discussions regarding civic engagement and student activism."

UCO Diversity Retention Information provided by Dene Roseburr-Oloto, Director, Office of Diversity and Inclusion, University of Central Oklahoma.

"Without commitment, you'll never start and without consistency, you'll never finish." -- Denzel Washington [Quote on Ms. Roseburr-Oloto's LinkedIn]

Gen. Larry O. Spencer 

The Jerry Holmes Leadership Program hosted Gen. Larry O. Spencer as its Fall 2020 Distinguished Speaker. Retiring as a four-star general, Spencer spent over 40 years in the Air Force. His last assignment was as the Vice Chief of Staff of the US Air Force, Washington, DC. In this capacity, Spencer was the second highest-ranking military member in the Air Force. Spencer is the president of the Armed Forces Benefit Association and serves on the boards of Whirlpool Corporation, The Triumph Group, and Haynes International. He holds a bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering Technology from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale.

To 93 attendees, General Spencer talked about leadership essentials: inspiration, calculated risks, associates, listening, persistence, character and integrity, diversity of thought, and more in addition to answering questions.

Student-to-Professional Mentoring Experience (STPMX)

HON Topic! Speaker Series, launched in Fall 2019

Oklahomans Presenting at the University of New Mexico Mentoring Institute, October

Highlighted Out-of-State Model (again)

Project MALES is a highly effective and researched Latinx mentoring program along with an institute, consortium and more at the University of Texas, Austin. "Advancing Equitable Educational Outcomes for Male Students of Color" Mentoring to Achieve Latino Educational Success

"The Project MALES Student Mentoring Program connects undergraduate students from the University of Texas at Austin with Austin-area high school and middle school male students. Partnering with Central Texas school districts, Project MALES Student Mentors work to improve the educational attainment and college-going competencies of young men of color while also providing a safe space for these young students to discuss responsible manhood."

Read more.

MENTOR Nebraska's Social Emotional Learning Training

Oklahomans can apply for free TA from MENTOR Nebraska and/or MENTOR Colorado.

TA - MENTOR Colorado -

TA - MENTOR Nebraska -

MENTOR Colorado's Virtual Coffee Notes Library

OSDE’s College and Career Readiness newsletter with opportunities, Chelsea Hunt, Executive Director of Work-Based Learning & Industry Engagement.

The Oklahoma Department of Education, Oklahoma CareerTech, and Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education have united to give Oklahoma youths the best educational and career opportunities possible.